Microsoft-backed Rubrik targets up to $5.4 billion valuation in US IPO

(Reuters) -Microsoft-backed cybersecurity software firm Rubrik said on Tuesday it was targeting a valuation of up to $5.44 billion in its U.S. initial public offering, as new listings rebound after a two-year lull.

Technology companies have been leading a revival in listings this year as stronger equity markets and robust debuts including social media platform Reddit and chip firm Astera Labs encourage others to press ahead with their IPO plans.

Walmart-backed digital marketing company Ibotta is also set to go public later this week.

Rubrik said it was aiming to raise up to $713 million by selling 23 million shares priced between $28 and $31 each. Reuters was the first to report the company was planning to market its shares at that price range and expects to go public as early as April.

The rapid adoption of generative artificial intelligence has opened up a new world of data security risks, prompting organizations to ramp up their cybersecurity budgets.

Palo Alto, California-based Rubrik provides data security solutions to more than 6,100 customers including appliance maker Whirlpool, snacks and beverages giant PepsiCo and investment bank Goldman Sachs.

Founded in 2014 by venture capitalist Bipul Sinha, the company was valued at $4 billion after Microsoft made an investment in 2021. Venture capital firms Greylock Partners and Lightspeed Venture Partners are also investors in Rubrik.

As part of the Microsoft partnership, Rubrik has agreed to spend $220 million over a maximum of 10 years to use cloud computing platform Azure for its data security solutions.

The company, which was initially named ScaleData, competes with data management and protection vendors including Cohesity, Commvault, Veeam, IBM and Dell EMC.

Rubrik will list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RBRK".

Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo Securities are among more than a dozen underwriters managing the IPO.

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)